EFFECTIVE:  JANUARY 2009

1.  NEW SUPER 16 DIVISION:
Any team, regardless of classification, may participate in Super 16 Regional and National Championship competition.

A) The TOP FOUR teams at any Super 16 Regional will be invited to advance to the Super 16 National Championships.  In the event a qualifying team declines the invitation, the berth and participation will be offered to the next team in the order of finish.

A PAID BERTH will be awarded to the highest finishing team (initially offered to the champion), which accepts participation in the National Championships.

B) Super 16 teams may add players from any U.S. State, to their Super Series registered roster, without
having to obtain a border exemption.

C) Rule 5.05 If a Super 16 team qualifies for the Super 16 national championship, this team may add or delete UP TO 5
players, from any U.S. state for the national championship.

D) In the age divisions offered, Super 16 National Champions will receive an expense paid trip to the Major Youth Baseball Alliance national championships, which will be televised nationally.  Expense compensation is determined by the M.Y.B.A. and shall include Free Entry, Travel Transportation, Team Hotel Accommodations, and possibly more.

2.  BATTING THE ENTIRE LINE-UP:
Rule 7.08B Effective this season, MINORS DIVISION teams may elect to bat the entire line-up in Super Series qualifiers.
If this option is selected, the team must bat the entire line-up for the duration of the game.  Should a player be injured, become ill or has to depart, during the game, that position in the batting order shall be an automatic out.  (If you start with 13 batters, you must bat 13 thru-out the game.  No position in the order may be skipped for any reason)

Batting the entire line-up IS NOT an option in Minors State Championships or Minors World Series events.

Batting the entire line-up is NOT ALLOWED in American, National, or Super 16 competition at any time.

3.  HIGH SEED EARNS HOME TEAM:
Rule 7.22  In 2009, following pool play, the HOME TEAM in bracket play shall be the team which earned the highest seed
in pool play.

This rule applies for qualifiers and state championships ONLY.   A coin flip to determine Home Team remains a requirement in all Super 16 Regionals, National Championships, and World Series events.

4. WORLD SERIES EVENTS:
In summer 2009, Super Series will offer Eastern, Southeastern, Central, and Western World Series events in both the American and Minors Divisions.

5. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS:
Single National Championship events, in the specific ages offered, will be provided for the SUPER 16 and/or National Division.

6. TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
The Major Youth Baseball Alliance, in cooperation with MLB.com and the Major League Baseball Channel, will present The National Youth Baseball Championships.  As a member of the Major Youth Baseball Alliance, Super Series Champions in the SUPER 16 and NATIONAL divisions will be offered a berth in this "tournament of champions" in each age division offered.  The event also provides participating teams with FREE entry, and travel compensation for transportation and team hotel accommodations.

7.  NEW POINT SYSTEM:

Effective in 2009, Super Series will offer a new point system per the following:

Points will be used to determine pool seeding in all national championships and world series events.

If a team is elevated to a higher classification during the season, all accumulated points to date, will also remain with the team.

If a team is reclassified to a lower division, all points acquired will be converted to the new point values for the new, lower classification

8.  PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:
Rule 8.11 clearly defines player eligibility for both managers and parents.  Participation of an ineligible player on a team within Super Series competition will result in disqualification of the team in the event, and possible suspension of the ineligible player, manager, and team.

9. UNIFORMS PLAYER NAMES 7.39 E-F:

E) If player names are included on the back of jerseys, the name displayed must match the identity of the player.  Teams cannot switch uniforms (containing names) to confuse opponents.

Penalty:  Team disqualification from the event. 

 (Applies to only uniforms with player names.  Players may switch jerseys with numbers only – provided the line-up card at the start of any game accurately matches the player’s name with the accurate number)

F) If a player is added to a team, and needs to use another player’s jersey with an inaccurate name, the inaccurate name must be covered with tape, and the umpire and opposing coach must be verbally notified about the situation prior to commencement of the game.  If a player enters the game without prior notification, the player is ruled to be an ineligible player and is ejected immediately.

10.  ORIGINAL BIRTH DOCUMENTS: 
Photocopies of all player birth certificates remain a requirement at National Championship check-in.  Original birth certificates were always required to be SHOWN to ensure that the photocopies have not been altered.
While showing original birth certificates is still a preferred verification, we will now also accept a U.S. Passport, and a photo State Driver's License, in lieu of the original birth certificate.

11. NO ROSTER CHANGES nor ADDITIONS ONCE A TOURNAMENT BEGINS:
No roster changes, or player additions, are allowed for any team once tournament check-in has been concluded, or the team has commenced play in a qualifying tournament.

PENALTY:  Disqualification of the team from the event and possible suspension of the team manager and the added player.

12. RELEASED PLAYER CLASSIFICATIONS:
Any player released from a team, whether by managerial release or roster termination, shall retain his classification for the remainder of the current season (unless the player is granted a reclassification by the national office.)

(Example:  A qualified National Division roster is terminated and all players are released.  Those players remain classified in the National Division, and are eligible to join only another National Division team for the current season.  It is the manager's responsibility to ensure a higher classified player is NOT added, in any way, to a lower classification team.  PENALTY: Disqualification of the team and possible suspension of the player and the manager.)

13. ROSTER INTEGRITY:
Super Series registered rosters are legal documents attesting to player eligibility.  It is the responsibility of team managers to ensure that all data is accurate.  Managers found to have entered erroneous player birth dates, addresses, or names, whether intentionally or accidentally, shall be subject to suspension, or disqualification, by Super Series Baseball of America.